1 Gurk Firestone

In a land filled with danger and intrigue, the 'Citadel' stands tall as a beacon of hope and knowledge. Within the walls of this incredibly wide and majestic tower, a group of young apprentices known as acolytes are trained in the ways of magic, honing their skills and abilities under the watchful eyes of the tower's master, Magus Rutherford.

Life within the tower was not easy, as the acolytes must compete with one another for the completion of missions, very rewarding in terms of magic crystals and knowledge points, both absolutely necessary on the path of growing stronger. All acolytes strive to one day ascend and become a full-fledged Magus. But their trials within the tower are nothing compared to the dangers that lurk beyond the tower's walls.

The land is home to all manner of fearsome creatures, from giant flaming crocodiles to evil ghost spirits. And then there are the humanoid species that roam the land, including dwarves, goblins, vampires, werewolves and many more still.

Despite the challenges they face, the acolytes are determined to rise to the top and become the greatest wizards the land has ever known. And with the help of their masters, they may just have a chance to succeed and bring peace to the troubled land.

The times were difficult. It was the third year in a row already since the 'long winter' began. With the scarcity of food, the creatures outside the citadel became increasingly more active and ferocious. As a result, few acolytes still dared to take on missions requiring them to go far from the Citadel.

Yet, a lonely and mysterious green creature was climbing a tree in the 'White Forest'. Unlike other acolytes who liked to travel in groups to reduce the dangers, this creature was solitary. Be it covering his tracks, moving silently or more importantly, following the steps of a humanoid creature, this small 'goblin' was an expert at hunting.

Unlike regular goblins who lived in primitive tribes with sticks and bones, it was obvious that this goblin was different. First and foremost, there was his white robe, symbol of his status. This robe was not normal. It possessed a basic enchant keeping its wearer warm even if the weather was terrifyingly cold. It was an item provided to all acolytes from the Citadel, with no exception to the rule.

After several days of tracking it, the Goblin Acolyte finally managed to find its prey. It was no easy opponent. It was a [Werewolf], a creature between Man and Wolf, capable of shifting into one or another race, while retaining the intellect of the first, and the physical agility of the latter. Werewolves were not very dangerous to groups of experienced acolytes, for they lacked magical abilities besides shapeshifting. However, they were terrifyingly dangerous to normal humans and inexperienced acolytes who had just begun studying in the Citadel. It would not be rare for werewolves to successfully massacre entire villages by themselves, as normal soldiers are no match against werewolves.

Hence, a hefty bounty was put on every single werewolf, making it a very rare and bountiful prey in the eyes of acolytes willing to go out of the Citadel.

Sneaking on his sleeping prey, the Goblin Acolyte advanced slowly, until he reached the necessary range to cast his spell.

[Fire Column]

As he finished his incantation, a column of fire engulfed his prey. Although it was an incredibly powerful spell of the [Fire] element, known for its destructiveness, werewolves were known for their high vitality. Nevertheless, the goblin shaman stood confidently, his fiery eyes fixed on the werewolf as it approached. It was obvious from its bloodthirsty eyes and howl that it had taken significant amount of damage from this ambush.

In the goblin's hand, there lied a wicked-looking dagger, its blade glowing with an otherworldly energy. The werewolf snarled and lunged at the goblin, its claws extended and teeth bared. But the goblin was quick, dodging and weaving out of the way as the werewolf swiped at him with its claws.

The goblin countered with a series of swift strikes, his dagger slicing through the air as he aimed for the werewolf's vulnerable spots. The werewolf howled in pain as the goblin's blade found its mark, blood oozing from the wounds.

Despite its injuries, the werewolf refused to give up, launching itself at the goblin with renewed ferocity. But the goblin was ready, summoning a burst of flame that engulfed the werewolf and sent it crashing to the ground, repeating the same incantation it had done earlier.

Breathing heavily, the goblin stood over the defeated werewolf, its blade still at the ready in case the creature tried to rise again. But it was clear that the werewolf was no match for the goblin's cunning and skill. With a satisfied grin, the goblin sheathed his dagger and approached the corpse, his mission accomplished with only moderate effort.

Looking at his bleeding arm, the goblin cursed. Despite all of his effort, he still got injured. Applying a white powder with strong medicinal scent to the claw marks on his arm, his wound immediately stopped bleeding and showed signs of instant recovery. In three or four hours at most, the wound would have disappeared.

Hearing the familiar mechanical voice of his biochip, the goblin smiled. He was slowly growing stronger.

[Congratulations! You have killed a [Beginner-rank werewolf]. The world consciousness is strengthening you...Agility, Strength, and Spirit stats are growing slightly...You have earned 3 EXP...]